Sylvania



C. H. REED AND W. J. VON BUCHWALD.

FLAGSTAFF.

APPLICATION FILED MAY23.1918

I 1 520,4 1 2. I I Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

I n I I I 1 p I r I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. REED Aivn WILLIAM J. VON BUCHWALD, or PHILADELPHIA, PENN- SYLVANIA.

FLAGSTAFF.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

ToaZZ whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that we, CHARLES H. REED and WILLIAM J. VoN BUCHWALD, both citizens of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia andv State of Pennsylvania, have invented.

certain new and useful Improvements in Flagstafls, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to flagstafl's, more particularly to the rods usedfor holding railway signal flags or the like, and including the devices designed for the purpos of securing the flag removably to the sta This invention consists in the production of parts having special construction and arrangement with respect to, each other whereby it is believed the flag may be quickly and conveniently secured I or. removed, and by which the edge .portion of the flag is held strongly against displacement when in service, either by the action of the flag to and fro by the gateman at a railway crossing or similar situation- 'The constructionand arrangement of the parts and devices comprising this in--' vention are illustrated in the accompanymg drawings, of which Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of portions of a metal tubular stafi with the remaining parts in position thereon. Fig. 2 is a crosssectionon the broken line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In thisview the scale of drawing is full size. Fig. 3 is an exterior side view of the end of the staff illustrated in Fig. 1, shown full size, and representing the finger latch full size, of the right hand end of this invention as "shown in Fig. 1. Fig." 5 is asideview of the clamping bar by itselffintroduced to 7 illustrate the bowed construction thereof.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of this invention illustrating a woden stafi' with the remaining parts in positionthereon, and in Fig. 6 and the remaining figures of the drawing there isillust'rated' modified means forsecuring the pivoted'end of the clamping bar in the longitudinal'slot of the staff.

7 Fig. 7 is a bottom' plan view of the end of this invention as illustrated in Fig. 6

1 including the means for pivotally connecting the clan piii g bar to the stafl' and in the slot thereof. 1g. 8 is .a longitudinal secand '10. 7

tion of a portion of the wooden stafl' illustrated in Fig. 6 near the end thereof, and shows the manner in which the pivoted end of the clamping bar may be moved out of the slot in the staff without turning the bar into an'angle with the stafl. Fig.'9 is a cross-section, full size, on the broken line 9-9 of Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a cross-section, full size, on the broken line l0-10 of Fig. 1.

Throughout the drawings and description, the same letter is employed to refer to the same part.

. Considering Figs. 1, 2 3, 4: and 5, where the stafi' A is shown it 1s a piece of metal tubing of suitable size, provided with a longitudinal slot a. A clamping bar B, which has a T-shaped cross-section formed by the curving double flange b, is secured by a pivot pin C to a'block D within the tube A and in a slot 01 of the block. The body of the bar B passesv into the slot a of the tubular staff, and the curved flange 6 lies contiguous to the outer surface of the staff, with the curvature of which it usually corresponds as best shown in Figs. 2, 4:,

To hold the bar in the slot, and in order that it may be conveniently released at will,

one end E of the bar B is carried slightly beyondthe end or head F of the tube A,

and that head is provided with a projecting notched catch 7" which engages a recessed finger latch e. The forms of the catch f and the latch e are best shown in Figs. 3

of the bar throughout the length of the 7 bar, the same is V longitudinally bowed slightly as illustrated in Fig. 5. When the bar bearing the edge of the flag is pressed into the slot aand the latch e andcatch f engaged, the bar and flange straighten out and flange. 6 clamps the edge of. the flag to the staff throughout its entire length making a particularly secure attachment, but enabling the flag to be easily and quickly released.

Now, consider Figs. '6, 7, 8 and 9. The construction is substantially the same as that previously described, but the staff H is of wood. It has a longitudinal slot it within which the clamping bar J, having the flange j, is located. The free end of the bar K eXtends slightly beyond the end cap 70 that covers the end of the stafl, and the pivot L secures the finger latch M to the end of the bar. The catch for the finger latch is marked m and it projects as shown from the end cap is.

Covering the pivoted end of the bar J, the staff H is provided with an external sleeve N, that has a slot at extending lengthwise and forming a continuation of the slot h in the staff. The end of the bar is pivotally held by means of a flat link 0 whichhas a longitudinal slot P engaging a transverse pivot pin Q. Thus, the flat link may move a little back and forth in the direc- -to" its pivotal movement.

tion of the length of the staff in addition The flat link is connected pivotally with the end of the bar J by the pin R.

It will be observed that the bar J has, near the pivot R, a transverse pin 1" that projects on both sides of the bar as best shown in Fig. 9, When the bar J is clamped in the slot of the staff, the transverse pin 1 occupies the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 7 Suppose that the finger latch M is now released. It may be turned into the same relative position as the latch e in Fig. 3.- Now, the bar J and the attached flat link 0 can be moved to the left until the pin 1 is opposite the transverse slot S in the sleeve N. It is believed to be clear that the pin will pass outwardly through the slot. S, and the bar may be swung outwardly upon the link 0 into the position shown in- Fig. 8, wherein the bar is parallel with but at a distance without the staff and the flag may readily be inserted or removed;

In the operation of this invention as set forth in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, the edge of the flag is passed over the bar sufiiciently to enable a portion of the edge to be clamped by the flange b, as illustrated in Fig. 10, when the latch e and the catch f are engaged.

v In the operation of this invention as set forth in Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9,the bar J need not be swung out at a wide angle with the stafl. It may be moved into the position shown in Fig; '8, and the edge portion of the .within the sleeve N and the pivotal end of the bar is thereby held against any displacement outwardly. The finger latch M secures the free end. of the bar as already made plain.

Having now described this invention and explained the mode of its operation, what we claim is 1. In a flagstaii, the combination with a staff, of a clamping bar, one end of the said bar being freely movable, releasable means for securing the said movable end of the bar to the end of the staii, means for pivotally securing the other end of the bar to the staff, and for permitting a limited longi tudinal movement o1 the said -bar in the direction of the said releasable end-securing means, and devices located adjacent to the pivoted end of the bar and brought into engagement by the said longitudinal move ment of the bar for holding the said pivoted end of the bar closely to the staff.

9..In' a flagstaii, the combination with a stafl', of a clamping bar, one end of the said bar being freely movable, releasable means for securing the said movable end of the bar to the end of the stafi, means for pivotally securingthe other end of the bar to the staii and for permitting a limited longitudinal movement of the bar in the direction of the said releasable endsecuring means, and devices located adjacent to the pivoted end of the bar and comprising a. slotted member. carried by the stafi' and a projecting member carried by 4 the bar, the said members being brought into engagement by the longitudinal movement of the bar for holding the pivoted end of the bar closely to the staff.

3. In a fiag'staii, the combination with a Stafi,.0f a clamping bar, releasable means for securing one end of the bar to the end of the staff, a longitudinally slotted sleeve inclosing a portion of the stafi and having a transverse slot opening into the longitudinal slot, the said stafi having a cavity opening into the slots of the sleeve, means for pivotally securing the said bar to the stafi' comprising a link mounted in the said cavity of the staff and having a length- ,wise movement and a .pivotal movement through the longitudinal slot of the sleeve, the said link being? pivotally connected with theend of the bar, and the said bar having ward movement of the bar.

4.1a a fiagstafl, the combination with a stafi, of; a clamping bar, releasable-means for securing one end of the bar to the end of the staff, means for pivotally connecting the other end of the said bar to the staff, the said means including a device permitting the lengthwise movement of therbar against. the staff, a transverse pin projecting from the bar, and means for engaging the pin when the bar is moved lengthwise in one direction whereby the pivoted end of the bar is held contiguous. to the staff;

5. In a flagstafl, the combination with a longitudinally slotted staff, of a clamping bar constructed to enter the slot of the staff, releasable means for securing one end of the bar to the end of the staff, means for pivotally connecting the other end of the bar to the staff in the slot thereof, the said second means including a device permitting the lengthwise movement of the bar in the said slot, a transverse pin projectingfrom the bar, and means for engaging the pin when the bar is moved lengthwise in one direction whereby the pivoted end of the bar is held in the slot.

6. In a flagstafl, the combination with a stafl having a longitudinal slot, of a clamping bar having a rib extending lengthwise and side flanges extending from the lower edge of the rib of the bar and on both sides thereof, the said rib of the bar being longer than the flanges and projecting beyond the ends thereof, one projectingend of said rib being pivotally secured in the slot of the staff and the other projecting end of the rib passing out of the slot at the end of the staif and provided with a pivoted latch, means projecting from the end of the staff for engaging the said latch, the said clamping bar being bowed in the direction of its length to insure contact between the flanges of the bar and the stafi when the bar is closed against the staff.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signae tures.

CHARLES H. REED. WILLIAM J. VON BUCHWALD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

